clark



(No Model.) 2Sheets--Sheet 1.

E. W. CLARK.

TABLE.

No. 452,117. I Patented May 12, 1891.

hi3- ATTORNEY.

(N M d l.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. W. CLARK.

TABLE.

No. 452,117. Patented May 12,1891.

WITNESSES:

H/ ATTORNEY.

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UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

ELISHA V. CLARK, OF HIGH SPRING, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO .GEORGE \VASI-IINGTON HYDE, OF SAME PLACE.

TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 452,117, dated May 12, 1891.

Application filed September 4, 1890. Serial No. 363,887. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, ELISHA WILLIAM CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at High Spring, in the county of Alachua and State of a table of the kind with a rotatory disk upon.

which dishes may be placed in order from one position while said top rotates; and it consists in the construction, arrangement, and novel combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the drawings, and'particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

- In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 represents a plan view of the base or frame that supports the table-top and attachments, and to which the legs are secured; Fig. 2 represents a side View of said frame and attached legs. Fig. 3 represents a plan view of the cross-frame to which the fixed annular edge or rim of the table-top is secured. Fig. A represents a plan view of the table with the rotatory portion of the top detached. Fig. 5 represents a reversed plan view of said rotatory portion of the top. Fig. 6 represents a broken plan view of the table, showing the manner in which the parts stand one above the other. Fig. 7 represents a side view extending from below the base or supporting frame to the top. Fig. 8 represents a side View of the operative mechanism, the side of the inclosin g casing thereof being removed.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates the base-frame or support-frame of the table, composed of the cross-bars a a and the strips a a, secured to and connecting the arms of the same, and of the legs a a secured to the frame A at points corresponding to the ends of the cross'pieces a a.

B is the fixed annular edge or rim of the table-top, which rim is secured by nails or otherwise to the strips a a, and b is a crossframe composed of the bars I) 6, having their ends secured to the upper surface of said rim. The points of crossing or centers of the crossbars a a and b I) register and are provided with registering openings which form a bearing for a short vertical pivoted tube hereinafter described.

C is the rotatory portion or disk of the table top, of slightly larger diameter than the inner periphery of the fixed annular rim B, so that its edge projects a short distance beyond said periphery. Secured centrally to the lower surface of said disk is the short pivotal tube 0, which has outstanding legs at its top, through openings in which the tube is bolted to the disk. The pivotal tube cstands and turns in the bearing-opening c in the center of the cross-bars a a and b b, the disk standing about two inches above the rim, from which it is separated by the intervening cross-bars b b.

The following is a description of the mechanism by means of which the rotatory disk and fiy-fau are operated.

Secured to the frame A and depending therefrom is a case D containing said mechanism. In the top and bottom of the case are journaled the ends of a vertical shaft F, upon which is the coiled driving-spring f, one end of which is attached to the shaft and the other end to the casing. f is a ratchet-wheel mounted on said shaft and controlled by a suitable pawl connected to the casing, the ratchet-wheel preventing the shaft from rotating in the wrong direction. f is a gearwheel mounted on the shaft F, and f is a bevel-pinion mounted thereon above said wheel.

G is a horizontal shaft journaled in a bear ing in the end of the casing and having on its end therewithin a bevel-pinion g, that meshes with the similar pinion f on the shaft F. The outer end of theshaft G is formed into a crank-handle g, by means of which and the bevel-pinions the shaft F can be rotated and the spring f wound up.

H is a pinion mounted on the shaft F above the bevel-pinions.

The lower end of the short pivotal tube 0 passes through an opening in the top of the easing into the latter and has upon it a gearwheel I, that meshes with the pinion II, so that the rotation of the shaft F will rotate said gear-wheel and pivotal tube, and eonsequently the disk (1 secured to the latter.

The wheel I is loose on the pivotal tube, but may be made to turn therewith by means of a spliced clutch-sleeve 2', that can be moved down to engage or clutch the upper end of the hub of said wheel. The sleeve is thus moved by means of a lever z", pivoted in an opening in the adjacent end of the casing and having a fork on its inner end, the arms of which enter a groove in the sleeve. Thus when it is not necessary to rotate the disk C the wheel I and clu tch-sleeve t' are disengaged and the wheel turns idly on the pivoted tube.

K is a vertical fly-fan spindle stepped in a bearing secured to the floor of the casing and extending thence upward through the pivotal tube 0 to a sufficient height above the rotatory disk 0, and L k are fans of any desired number suitably arranged and attached to the top of said spindle.

The spindle K is in two sections connected by a socket-joint just inside of the top of the pivotal table, so that when it is not desired to use the fans the upper section with the fans can be detached and laid aside.

K is a pinion mounted on the lower Section of the fan-spindle, within the casing, meshing with the gear-wheel f on the shaft F and rotated thereby, so that the spindle and fans are also rotated by the described gearing.

The disk C is rotated by agear-Wheel driven by a pinion because it is necessary that said disk should move quite slowly, while the flyfan spindle, which, with the fans, is intended to move rapidly, is rotated by a pinion driven by a gear-wheel.

In operation when a guest seats himself at the table he can, if he desires, read resting his book on the stationary annular rim B while his order is being filled. The waiter before servingthe order sets the rotatory disk C in motion by the described means. He then places the dishes on said moving disk as he stands at one point adjacent thereto, the disk moving forward with one dish that has been placed on it and giving clear space for thereception of a second dish. This is continued till the order is served, when the rotation of the disk is stopped.

It must be observed that one and the same spring drives both the disk 0 and the fiy-fans.

I am aware that prior to my invention de vices have been used in which two disks have been driven at equal rates of speed in different directions, and I do not, therefore, desire to claim such a construction, as it is evident that it is an essential part of my invention that the fan be revolved faster than it would be advisable to rotate the carrying-disk (for fear of spilling the contents of the vessels thereon) and that means be provided to hold the disk stationary; and therefore What I claim as my invention is- In a self-waiting table, the combination, with two sets of cross-bars and with an annular rim contained between the said sets, of a tube supported by the said cross-bars, a disk of greater size than the internal diameter of the said annular rim mounted upon the said tube, a spindle contained within the said tube projecting above and below the said spindle and having a fan upon its upper end, a shaft below said annular rim, having two gearwheels of unequal size thereon, a spring adapted to drive the said shaft, a pinion upon the base of the said spindle engaging the larger of the said gear-wheels, a gear-wheel loosely mounted upon the said tube and engaging the smaller of the said gear-wheels, a clutch sliding upon the said tube and engaging the said gear-wheel thereon, and a pivoted lever controlling the position of the said clutch, as described.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

E. W. CLARK. Witnesses:

l3. LENNARD, W. 1-3. PINIARE. 

